My most recent project I call an Altarpiece for the World. It is my commentary on the current global climate crisis which affects every one of us in many ways. Here in Iowa, we are dealing with water quality issues, land erosion, drought and policy makers who seem to turn a deaf ear to the problems.
Three panels make up the Altarpiece. The middle panel is a full figure portrait of Chief Seattle, a leader from the Suquamish people who were located on Puget Sound.
In 1854 the United States Government organized treaties designed to eventually remove the tribes to make way for white settlement.
Seattle represented the Suquamish, along with other subchiefs at one signing ceremony in which tribes relinquished land claims and agreed to move to “reservations”.
It was during this time that Seattle presented a statement to the Federal Commission and it is said he stood up at the ceremony and spoke. The text of the letter has been translated many times over the years.
In my painting, Seattle is emerging out of the text of his letter. It is a poignant love letter to the planet. A plea for the new settlers to ‘Love this earth like a Newborn loves it’s Mother’s Heartbeat.”
The side panels are apocalyptic visions of dead forests with critically endangered owl species placed among the dry wood.
Time is running out. Greenland lost 586 billion tons of ice in 2019. Fires and drought are leaving behind a scorched earth. Climate denial is alive and well in this country. We are seeing rapid species extinctions, and dangerous destabilization of the earth’s climate.
My hope today is to add to the voices advocating for serious change for a dying planet.
“Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of earth…. your destiny is a mystery to us….”
Chief Seattle
